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<ul><li>A new amendment to India’s foreign trade policy restricts companies from importing ‘gifts and samples’ duty-free into the country.</li><li>The move is aimed to keep companies like Shein, <keyword id="6016374" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Club-Factory">Club Factory</keyword> and <keyword id="6015916" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ali-express">Ali Express</keyword> from using the provision to evade tax.</li><li>They have reportedly been underbilling items to get them past customs without having to pay the import duty.</li></ul>The Indian government is cracking down on Chinese e-commerce companies like Ali Express, Club Factory and Shein. They will no longer be able to avoid paying customs duty, even on ‘gifts and samples’ valued under ₹5,000. Until today, such items were exempted from scrutiny. Not anymore. “Import of goods, including those purchased from e-commerce portals, through post or courier, where Customs clearance is sought as gifts, is prohibited,” said the <a href="https://dgft.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notification%20No.%2035%20dated%2012.012.2019%20in%20E.pdf">notification</a> by the Department of Commerce. “Import of goods as gifts with payment of full applicable duties is allowed,” it said, amending the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20. Rakhis, but not the gifts related to it, will still be allowed under Section 25(6) of the Customs Act 1962 which states, “..no duty shall be collected if the amount of duty leviable is equal to or less than ₹100. ” How does it affect online shopping? While the new regulations apply to all e-commerce companies, the move is angled as curbing the tax evasive practices of Chinese e-commerce platforms. Shein, Club Factory and other companies have previously come under scrutiny for misusing the duty-free provision. Since there was no limit on the number of gifts an individual can receive, the companies were reportedly underbilling their shipments to get them through customs without having to pay any import duty. In June, the Mumbai courier terminal seized 500 parcels addressed to Shein and Club Factory customers as per an <a href="https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/internet/mumbai-customs-seizes-hundreds-of-gifts-from-china/69866448">ET</a> report. A move that led to Shein partially shutting down its India operations. The companies shifted airports in order to keep receiving consignments but a month later, customs officials in Bengaluru and Delhi <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/policy-trends/bengaluru-and-delhi-customs-forbid-clearing-gifts/articleshow/70221405.cms">followed</a> suit — refusing to let any ‘gifts and samples’ into the country. The amendment was originally proposed as a part of the draft e-commerce policy back in February. Now that it’s an official part of the foreign trade policy, items ordered online from foreign platforms are about to get more expensive. The Indian government is also <a href="https://m.economictimes.com/defaultinterstitial.cms">mulling over</a> introducing a 50% tax and customs duty on products bought from Chinese e-commerce platforms — but has yet to finalise the exact rates. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/amazon-india-finds-way-around-new-e-commerce-rules-for-cloudtail-and-appario/articleshow/67831376.cms">Amazon may have found a way around India’s new e-commerce rules</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-indian-government-may-revisit-plans-to-curb-e-commerce-discounts-report/articleshow/67132528.cms">The Indian government may revisit plans to curb e-commerce discounts: Report</a>

If you ordered a ‘gift’ from Club Factory, Shein or Ali Express — it might not make it through customs in India

New Delhi: <keyword id="22930355" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Janmashtami-festivities" source="keywords">Janmashtami festivities</keyword> across the country led to a <keyword id="22930356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business-surge" source="keywords">business surge</keyword>, with transactions exceeding Rs 25,000 crore, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (<keyword id="20143308" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CAIT" source="keywords">CAIT</keyword>). These figure highlight the robust consumer spending during the festival driven by the vibrant celebrations of <keyword id="20126824" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="janmashtami" source="keywords">Janmashtami</keyword>, marking one of the most commercially active periods of the year. CAIT's National General Secretary and Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal, stated that during this significant festival, large-scale sales were observed, particularly in flowers, fruits, sweets, deity costumes, decorative items, fasting sweets, milk, curd, butter, and dry fruits. Khandelwal said that festivals like Janmashtami are an important part of the Sanatan economy, which strengthens the nation's economy. CAIT's National President, BC Bhartia said that Janmashtami was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country, especially in North and West India, where the festival was celebrated with much joy. <keyword id="20187217" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Krishna-Janmashtami" source="keywords">Krishna Janmashtami</keyword> was celebrated on August 26 this year across the country. Devotees traditionally fast and decorate temples and homes with flowers, diyas, and lights. Temples were decorated attractively, and there were large crowds of people visiting them. He highlighted that the special attractions of the Janmashtami festival included digital tableaux, selfie points with Lord Krishna, and many other delightful scenes. In cities, there were numerous bhajans, religious dances, and discourses by saints and sages. Various social organizations also organized large-scale Janmashtami celebrations. According to scriptures, Janmashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada. It is the day Lord Krishna was born. Earlier this month, the CAIT anticipated a festive trade of over Rs 12,000 crore across the country during the Rakhi festival. In 2022, the business during the Rakhi festival stood at around Rs 7,000 crore, in 2021 it was Rs 6,000 crore, in 2020 it was Rs 5,000 crore, in 2019 it was Rs 3,500 crore, and in 2018 it was Rs 3,000 crore, as per Khandelwal. The trade body said that the markets are witnessing a massive rush for shopping, and people are very enthusiastic about the festival.

Janmashtami festivities drive business across India, sales exceed Rs 25,000 crore: CAIT

<ul><li>This International Nurse Day, health workers share their experience to fight <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> with Business Insider. </li><li>Every health worker in India is fighting multiple issues in India ranging from taboo to assault. </li><li>Business Insider spoke to some of the nurses who have been frontline workers in dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. </li></ul>“The most disturbing experience during this pandemic has been the reaction of the people towards us. People think we are the one spreading the disease,” Rakhi Yadav , a 29 year old nurse at AIIMS told Business Insider. Rakhi is one of the many nurses who seek mental support from the people. On World <keyword id="645412" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nurses-Day">Nurses Day</keyword> this year, the struggles of health workers in India, who are fighting the deadly coronavirus pandemic, are made worse by the stigma attached to their profession. Yadav said people change their path when they see her coming back from office. Moreover, one of her friends from work also had to change her residence during the pandemic. <div type="image" title="WhatsApp Image 2020-05-12 at 11.31.46 AM." msid="75689685" hostid="261"></div>Rakhi Yadav Yadav recently contracted the virus from one of the patients and when she got infected people thought she was the one spreading the virus and purposely hid the disease.“People have to realise that we are not the virus neither we are spreading it. We are the one on the front line; we are there for them, not against them,” Rakhi said. Another nurse Masih, who works at a private hospital in Gurugram, <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/international-nurses-day-2020-delhi-ncr-nurses-go-beyond-call-of-duty-to-serve-patients/story-YZOR8Niubys2gcrM7RYrwM.html">is worried about the rising number of</a> assaults against health workers in India. When she visits a grocery shop they ask her to not to come or stand a little away from the shop. Every health worker in India is fighting multiple issues in India ranging from taboo to assault but isn’t stopping them from going beyond their call of duty. In Karnataka, a nine-month pregnant nurse Roopa Praveen Rao continues to serve coronavirus patients. “The taluk hospital is surrounded by many villages, people need our service. My seniors had asked me to take leave but I want to serve people. I work six hours a day,” she told ANI. Dr Mani Shankar Madhav, a Chief Medical Officer at a private hospital, returned to his home in Dwarka after a month of being on Covid-19 duty as well as quarantine. But as he set home, the society started discriminating against him – refusing him to touch anything or use the lift, turning around if they saw him walking. Dr. Madhav was on Covid-19 duty in March but the harassment from the society continued until much later. <div type="image" title="IMG-20200511-WA0006" msid="75689702" hostid="261"></div> He tweeted out his story to the Delhi Chief Minister, which was then covered by <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/doctor-harassed-by-his-dwarka-housing-society/article31513314.ece">national media outlets</a>. On Saturday (May 9), India's largest hotel chain, OYO, offered a room to the doctor and his pet dog Lucy under its ‘Donate a night’ initiative, where he is currently staying. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/indian-doctors-attacked-abused-assaulted-while-fighting-coronavirus/articleshow/74961776.cms">Indian doctors have an unexpected problem while battling Coronavirus</a>

On International Nurses Day, here are some untold, dispiriting stories of struggle and stigma around health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

<ul><li>The <keyword id="36208" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="festive-season" source="Orion">festive season</keyword> has always been important to brands, especially to e-commerce players who line up big bumper discounts, look for more retail brands to partner and ramp up their product offerings.</li><li>This festive season, e-commerce platforms are focusing on bringing more personalisation and curation to customers shopping online through greater tech and marketing integration.</li><li>More and more e-commerce platforms are also exploring social commerce, turning their apps into super apps by bringing content, products and trends under one roof for consumers to watch and shop at once.</li><li>With increasing internet penetration, e-commerce players are expecting new growth from Tier II, III and beyond this festive, which will cumulatively contribute to $150 billion of e-commerce as per RedSeer Consulting’s report.</li><li>We speak to India’s leading e-commerce players to find out more about their festive plans and revival expectations.</li></ul>The year 2020 accelerated e-commerce industry, perhaps by a decade, revolutionising the way brands operate, run, and grow their businesses, as well as how consumers choose to shop and pay. In the initial months of the lockdown, businesses witnessed a clear shift in consumer behaviour. Historically offline shoppers also came online due to convenience and safety. Consumers are still hesitant to return to in-store shopping completely and audiences from Tier II and Tier III are also preferring to shop online. The pandemic has evidently caused an inflection point for e-commerce in the country. With the second-largest internet user base, India has emerged as one of the most prominent markets globally. Around 480 million people in India have access to the internet out of which 90 million are online shoppers, according to estimates from management consultancy RedSeer. Shoppers from India’s small towns and cities will cumulatively contribute to $150 billion of e-commerce GMV in the coming decade, until 2030, revealed RedSeer. <div type="image" title="redseer - ecomm report" msid="85901903" hostid="261"></div> After spending a glum year and a half, consumers are excited to celebrate the festive season with upcoming shopping sales for Diwali, Dussehra and Christmas. IPL and ICC T-20 World Cup will further improve consumer sentiment this year. According to a survey conducted by The Trade Desk and YouGov, 82% of consumers shopped online at least once a month in the past six months, and nearly one in four made online purchases several times a week or more often. Titled ‘<a href="https://pages.thetradedesk.com/rs/527-INM-364/images/TheFestiveSeasonPulse2021.pdf">The Festive Season Pulse 2021</a>,’ it further said that 91% of Indian consumers are planning a purchase during the upcoming festive season and six in 10 are interested in learning about new brands during festive season sales. To leverage this uptick in consumer sentiment, the e-commerce category is all set to begin its festive marketing blitz and is preparing to line up big discounts for the season in a few weeks. For this 30-day period leading up to the festive season, leading fashion e-commerce platform <keyword id="319719" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="myntra" source="Orion">Myntra</keyword> has planned ‘Big Fashion Festival,’ which will be followed up with Myntra Diwali Sale, with a focus on ethnic wear. It will also be focusing on emerging categories like Beauty and Personal care, kidswear and categories such as innerwear and essentials which have experienced tailwinds post-Covid. Myntra’s Chief Business Officer, Ayyappan Rajagopal said, “We are expecting this festive season to be bigger than last year with more customers using online channels to make their purchases. Demand usually peaks in the 30 days leading to Diwali and we expect this year to be no different. In fact, the demand in the 2 months leading to the festive season is expected to be far more than last time (because people have learnt with time to adapt to a pandemic world). We expect high demand from across geographies and markets - metros, Tier 1, Tier 2, T3 cities and beyond. To cater to that, we have built the right ethnic wear, beauty, and home selection, and have partnered with brands on best deals. Hence, to leverage this demand and provide best value to our customers, we are organizing Big Fashion Festival and Myntra Diwali Sale to make this season a resounding success.” Right on the heels of the festive season, Myntra ramped up its marketing game by onboarding Hrithik Roshan, Vijay Deverakonda and Dulquer Salmaan as its newest brand ambassadors, alongside the existing celebrity ambassadors Kiara Advani, and Samantha Akkineni. Now, it is hoping to double its customer base and cater to Gen-Z shoppers with its high-decibel marketing. “With the optimism coming from recovery from Covid and revival in shopping sentiments along with the habitualisation of digital foray across all customer segments, we see a lot of new customers shopping during this festive season. We have also seen trends in Metro/T1 markets where Myntra has been traditionally strong, pointing towards such a revival. With a positive overall sentiment, we will be looking at doubling our customer base during this period. There will also be an added focus towards expanding our footprint in southern markets, deeper penetration into Tier 2 / 3 towns and exploring customer addition through emerging categories like Kids wear, Inner wear, fashion accessories, Beauty and persona care, etc. The greatest focus will be on Gen-Z cohort of shoppers,” shared Rajagopal. E-commerce platforms are also focusing on bringing more personalisation and curation to customers shopping online through greater tech and marketing integration. More and more e-retailers are exploring social commerce, turning their apps into super apps by bringing content, products and trends under one roof for consumers to watch and shop at once. D2C fashion platform Bewakoof.com that recently raised Rs 60 crore in an investment round led by InvestCorp, IvyCap and Spring Marketing Capital, is expecting to Rs 120 crore in brand sales this quarter. It recently rolled out celebrity-led digital campaigns with Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra and Farhan Akhtar. It plans to further build its market presence by signing more A-list celebrities to its roster and launch a 360-degree campaign by October. On the technology side, the company intends to launch a gamification-led loyalty program as it upgrades its Bewakoof Tribe with new and exclusive launches for the club members. Sharing the platform’s festive plans further, Prabhkiran Singh, Founder CEO, Bewakoof.com said, “Post pandemic, we saw a strong recovery and growth in certain categories like casual wear and leisurewear because of customers staying at home and with the pandemic slowing down, we expect a strong recovery in categories like ethnic wear, bags, accessories, etc in the festive season ahead. We’re also looking to capitalise on winter wear more this year than usual with winter around the corner and have put in investments accordingly. We expect our brand sales to be Rs 120 crore for the festive quarter.” For Bewakoof, the northern and western markets see the highest demand, followed by West Bengal and Assam because of Durga Puja. Currently, over 6 million customers visit Bewakoof.com every month. Singh told us that the festive season serves as a crucial window in the year for new customer acquisition and bringing back customers that haven’t shopped again for a while. The platform is also planning on increasing its marketing spends this festive. “For this year, 15% of our total marketing budget will be spent for the upcoming festive season.” We’re in the process of rebranding Bewakoof in the next 1-2 months and we’ll have a new look, logo, tagline along with a new set of celebrities that will endorse Bewakoof so we’re excited to roll this out and create buzz around it along with backing it up with top-funnel marketing investments. We plan to go heavy on top-funnel marketing investments starting October,” said Singh. E-retail platform OLX has upped its UI to woo its customers, digitising the entire process of online retailing, including verification of all its premium items. OLX Autos launched a verified inventory of cars with a new interface, which provides a detailed history of the car right from the ownership period all the way up to the service history of the car, and access to a host of financing options and after-sales products like insurance and warranty. As a result, OLX has witnessed a surge in demand for pre-owned cars. Sapna Arora, CMO, OLX India said, “Green shoots are already visible in the used car retail segment. The demand for pre-owned cars has been 25% higher than the pre-Covid levels while there has been an 82% plus growth in demand for pre-owned smartphones. Our goods category has also witnessed a strong rebound, as demand and supply have gone up by an average of 68% and 25%, respectively, compared to pre-Covid levels. The upcoming festival season is important for us as we expect the gap to be narrowing down between pre and post-Covid levels. There has been a strong uptake of e-commerce across regions, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with consumers there making the greatest shift to online shopping. We will continue to focus on the pre-owned auto segment and are expecting to surpass the demand this festive season.” At an industry level, Arora told us that e-commerce players are leveraging on hyper-personalisation to create individualised experiences on the platform and AI-powered chatbots are being implemented by the online retailers to bring customers close to an offline retail experience with a high engagement rate. Sharing OLX’s plan, Arora added, “This festive season we plan to use innovative solutions via relevant messaging at different levels of the retail journey. Our consumer base is growing organically. During this year’s lockdown, a lot of people moved online and we saw growth, about 30% more daily active users (DAUs) from our previous pre-Covid peak. In the festive season, our huge inventories across segments will contribute to increasing the DAU’s on the platform.” As per Nielsen India’s E-commerce Consumer Panel (E-Analytics Solution), there was a double-digit increase in average spend of online shoppers for electronics and accessories (39%), mobile and accessories (12%), and fashion, including apparel, footwear, and accessories (10%) after the pandemic. Appliances (e.g.TV, WM, refrigerators, etc.) also saw notable shopper spending increase at 9%. E-commerce giant Amazon is also ramping up its product range for the festive season. “Together with thousands of small &amp; medium business and brand partners, we continue to offer our customers the widest selection, convenience, and fast delivery. We are humbled by how millions of Indian customers have made us a part of their daily lives. Also, customers continue to believe that online shopping is the safest way to shop which has been reflecting in all the recent events of Amazon like Prime Day 2021, Great Freedom Festival, Rakhi Store, Onam store and so on. This festive season is not a normal one for reasons we all know and our success metric would be focused on how we can make our sellers successful. Customers can look forward to shopping from a wide selection of products across categories like Home &amp; Kitchen, Fashion &amp; Beauty, Appliances and Smartphones, Grocery essentials and more from the comfort and safety of their homes," said an Amazon India spokesperson. This growth trajectory of e-commerce platforms in India testifies how customers are increasingly recognising the importance of comfort shopping within closed doors, and after seeing their businesses take a plunge in the first three months of the lockdown, more and more sellers are also coming online.

This festive season, e-commerce platforms are betting big on Tier II and III markets, which are likely to contribute $150 million to e-commerce growth this year

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If you ordered a ‘gift’ from Club Factory, Shein or Ali Express — it might not make it through customs in India

Prabhjote Gill

Janmashtami festivities drive business across India, sales exceed Rs 25,000 crore: CAIT

ANI

On International Nurses Day, here are some untold, dispiriting stories of struggle and stigma around health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sanchita

Navdeep

This festive season, e-commerce platforms are betting big on Tier II and III markets, which are likely to contribute $150 million to e-commerce growth this year

Karuna Sharma

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